Ever since our company left, Jack has decided a chair in the kitchen is his new favourite place. It’s been weird… he hasn’t once set foot upstairs since everyone left. He is preferring to hangout in the kitchen or basement now. Before, his favourite places were upstairs and then the living room/kitchen area.

I’ve been taking advantage of the window light when he sits in his new favourite chair. Every time I walk by he is in a slightly different “pose”.

All the photos are better in black and white because the wall behind him is red and the towel thing he is sitting on is blue and green. :)

I’m happy he is hanging out with us again. It was a pretty long month of self induced isolation for him. Silly boy.

Thousands of coonhounds and about 25,000 humans will pour into Richmond, Indiana for the third largest coonhound convention in the country this weekend. So what is a Coonhound convention? What is isn’t is a place for “toothless, overall wearing, tobacco spitting backwoods folk,” according to the Indy Star. Some of the participants are rich, very rich, six figure and seven figure earners. Some are women. Some of the dogs are worth $ 40,000. During the weekend…The Poodle (and Dog) Blog

Boost your pet's health with these preventive measures
(BPT) – Taking active, preventive measures to support your health is one of the most important things you can do to ward off serious illness. You eat right, exercise, brush your teeth and make sure to get plenty of sleep, all to keep your body running …Read more on Seaside Courier

10 Rules Every Kid Should Know to Avoid Dog Bites
Dogs can be man's best friend – and as the number two pet in America – many people obviously agree. However, Fido comes with a sharp set of canine teeth. With those teeth, nearly 5 million people a year are bitten in the United States. According to …Read more on Care2.com

The CEO of a large catering company has put himself and his firm in a lot of trouble after a video showing him kicking a dog and yanking it into the air by the leash has surfaced.

Des Hague is the CEO of Centerplate, which contracts with large venues including sports arenas to provide food services. Centerplate appears to be a potential rival to Aramark, the firm that dominates the market. But the video showing Hague kicking and pulling the dog may threaten Centerplate’s steady climb, or at least delay it for a while.

Share this image

Des Hague from behind in the elevator with his friend’s dog, Sade.

The video, believed to be from July, shows Hague in the elevator of an apartment building in downtown Vancouver. He has a Doberman Pinscher on a leash, and as soon as the elevator doors close behind him, Hague begins to kick the dog repeatedly, then uses the leash to yank the dog into the air. Someone emailed the video to the British Columbia SPCA, which has taken the dog into custody and started an investigation into the incident.

The video exacted immediate consequences for Hague and the company. GlobalNews reported that people going into Vancouver's BC Place stadium for a football game said they wouldn't buy any food during the game and that the stadium should break off its contract with Centerplate.

"To see that fellow pull that dog and do that to that animal was an absolute disgrace," said one fan, John Kinney. "And it goes further than that -- the company that that gentleman worked for that's a black eye to everybody. That's a black eye to his friends and that's a black eye to society. Cruelty to animals is absolutely unacceptable. I'm not buying anything that this guy sells here -- it's a disgrace."

Share this image

The face that Desmond Hague shows as a corporate CEO.

Hague has already tried to handle the problem with an apology issued through his attorney.

"I take full responsibility for my actions," Hague said. "This incident is completely and utterly out of character, and I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed. Under the circumstances of the evening in question, a minor frustration with a friend's pet caused me to lose control of my emotional response. Unfortunately, I acted inappropriately, and I am deeply sorry for that and am very grateful that no harm was caused to the animal. I have reached out to the SPCA and have personally apologized to the dog's owner. At this time, I would like to extend my apology to my family, company and clients, as I understand that this has also reflected negatively on them."

A lot of Hague's problems -- and by extension, those of Centerplate -- can be seen in that official apology. First, there's the problem of apologizing through his attorney, rather than stepping forward and trying to take personal responsibility. It seems like a very bureaucratic form of morality, and the bland, generic nature of the apology only strengthens the impression of someone who's going through the motions for the sake of the public.

Share this image

BC Place Stadium is one of Centerplate's big contracts. Fans outside said they wouldn't be buying food after hearing about the CEO's abuse of a dog. (Wikimedia Commons)

Naturally, the company has tried to distance itself from the whole issue by putting out a statement that basically says it's all Hague's problem. "This is a personal matter involving Des Hague," the statement said. "Centerplate in no way condones the mistreatment of animals and since learning about the situation late Friday night ha[s] reached out to local authorities to better understand the facts and circumstances related to the incident. As this is an ongoing review, we cannot comment further at this time."

Nonetheless, as CEO, Des Hague is the public face of the company, and people identify him with Centerplate's corporate culture and ethics. Fortune Magazine quotes crisis management expert Steve Paskoff on the issue, and he sums up what a lot of other people are thinking: "My immediate reaction to this news was, this is a guy who will kick and drag a friend's dog -- what else is there to say about him? And if he treats defenseless dogs this way, how is he treating people? Is Centerplate going to be comfortable saying he represents our values, which state [on its website] that the company is 'a positive force in our communities?'"

Hague has deleted his Twitter account since the video came to light, but people continue to talk about the incident, using the hashtag #DesHague. Many of them ask variations of Paskoff's questions. Some speak in much harsher terms, demanding that he be fired. A few examples:

It's hard to imagine anyone wanting Hague for a friend, neighbor, or employer at this point. What do you think? Should Centerplate hold their CEO responsible for his behavior at home? Can he continue as CEO? And what does this say about them as a company?

National Dog Day: Pet parenting healthy for animals, humansPet parents across the country will be showing their canine companions a little extra love on Tuesday in celebration of National Dog Day. The holiday gives families everywhere a chance to show their appreciation for the four-legged family members that …Read more on Morganton News Herald

You are here
Please visit our website countryk9.petfinder.com or find us on Facebook at Country K-9 Rescue Adoptable Pets to see other available rescued pets. Our adoption fees are usually $ 100 for dogs and $ 50 for cats/kittens – all pets are fully vetted and healthy.Read more on Lebanon Democrat

Foodie events in Southwest Florida
Chefs will learn how to prepare healthy international meals including drinks, entrees and desserts. Children will also learn kitchen and food safety. This course is designed to be a hands on class where the Chief will prepare their own recipes and cook …Read more on The News-Press

I’ve spent a few days walking, talking and scouting walk routes with Luke. Wow.

Day 1- “Danger Luke Robinson”.

These roads are just downright scary. The route 101 highway from Oreck to Patricks Point was a part of the route I walked with Luke. The hills, the narrow “shoulders”- more like fingers in my opinion, are just dangerous. Combine the hairpin curves with speeding traffic, distracted and well, rude drivers that won’t move over create a hazardous scenario for our fuzzybutt friend and his Papi. ”zigging and zagging” along the road, yep, I get that now. Luke is cautious and protective of his kids and from what I’ve witnessed, I think he would risk his own life to save theirs.

Day 2-The choir

As we walked from Patricks Point state park to Trinidad, we were serenaded by the beautiful sound of sea lions in the fog. We were off of route 101 and walked along the coast. I felt fortunate to hear the sea lions singing, but sad that I couldn’t see them through the thick, dense fog. Oh and yes, more hills, up and down and back up and then down.

The Digs

I actually enjoy camping out as it reminds me of my youth, when my family would go on camping adventures in our 1972 Chevy station wagon, loaded up with gear! Those were the days.

I have mastered setting up and breaking down my tent in record time. (Actually, I think I’m quicker at it than Luke). What I bring to the campsite- lights, fun and purposeful battery operated mini flower multi colored string lights. They seem to be the funnest thing our fellow campers have seen.

My sleeping bag, pillow (yes, I brought my pillow from home), sleeping pad- not nearly thick enough as I can feel every stone, root and etc through it. The downside-the dirt factor.

Trust your instinct.Believe what you see is real. Example, if you think you have just seen a bear on the other side of the campsite across from you, then trust that you have.If your gut tells you to go right vs left, listen to no one. Trust your gut. And yes, I did spot a young black bear and when we walked down to check him out, we noticed his sibling/friend with him. Climbing trees for apples and not caring about us as we marveled at the peaceful coexistence. 2 black bears, 2 young bucks, 2 fawns and a few doe. The bucks, standing stoic as they protected the fawn and doe, and yes they were more cautious of us, than the black bears.

Believe in yourself.You CAN do what you put your mind to. Walk at your own pace. Focus on you and your goals and let the naysayers kiss your keester when you finish.

Note: the days I cranked out some miles walking with Luke were for my bestie, Kate, who has terminal cancer. Diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, which spread to her bones in her spine and skull. She’s in pain. As I walked with Luke and Indy, I thought of Kate. I dismissed the aches and pains felt while walking and post walk because, well Kate has aches and pains on a daily basis. I know Kate will continue her fight and stay strong. I am hoping next year, we can do our cross country adventure and kick up some dust along the way. Just like old days. Papa K. This walk and trip has also inspired me to plan a cross country trip with Papa K. He is living vicariously through me on this trek and wants to see the sights before his days are up. I will be part of that wish for Papa K. Perhaps he joins Kate and I! It would be a blast for us driving across country in an RV, at our own pace, visiting anywhere we want. Papa K- wants Vegas to be part of our trip. And I can’t wait to see him taking in the sights of Sin City, the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. 2015 will be a defining year. THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

In a chilling reminder of just how important it is to keep your dog’s vaccines up to date, 20 dogs in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts have died recently from parvovirus, and officials expect the death toll to climb before the outbreak is contained. The Boston Globe reports that the outbreak started three weeks […]